Anti-lockdown protestors have wrongly accused a police officer of pepper-spraying an elderly woman during a rally in Melbourne - even though he was at home looking after his newborn.
Demonstrators were outraged after footage showed two officers deploying pepper spray at a woman during violent protests in Richmond on Saturday.
Online vigilantes took to Twitter claiming they had found one of the officers filmed in the altercation. Social media users were quick to bombard the man with hate messages and abuse.
'Granny basher. I hope you apologised to her after her hip surgery and brain scan,' one person wrote. 'You rascal.'
Another person added: 'Should be immediately fired'.
Anti-lockdown protestors have wrongly accused a police officer of pepper-spraying an elderly woman during a rally in Melbourne - even though he was at home looking after his newborn
Demonstrators were left outraged after footage showed two officers deploying pepper spray at a woman during violent protests in Richmond, Melbourne, on Saturday
Victoria Police was prompted to issue a statement saying the wrong police officer had been identified.
'These posts are incorrect,' a spokesperson said. 'The member named was not on duty on Saturday and had nothing to do with the incident which has been referred to professional standards command for investigation.'
The man seemingly identified is understood to have been at home caring for his newborn. Victoria Police said they were investigating the officers who were captured in the video.
'The incident circulating on social media has been referred to Professional Standards Command and will be investigated,' a spokesperson said.
Hundreds of anti-lockdown demonstrators took to the streets in Melbourne on Saturday, sparking violent confrontations with police that resulted in 235 arrests and 10 injured officers.
Fears have been raised that demonstrators are already planning for the next rally and communicating with each other via encrypted messaging apps.
Some members have suggested withholding the location of the protest until the last minute - to throw police off their guard, The Herald Sun reported.
'Drop location one hour before meet up on the designated day as to not give cops time to prepare,' one person wrote.
There are at least 8,000 members in one of the group chats with one warning they will not be silenced.
'Footscray. Dandenong. Highpoint Shopping Centre. Chadstone Shopping Centre. Whatever. We will be heard wherever we go,' they wrote.
Hundreds of anti-lockdown demonstrators took to the streets in Melbourne on Saturday, sparking violent confrontations with police
A woman, reported to be in her 70s was knocked to the ground during the violent
